The upcoming continuation of the SimCity series will require a constant internet connection to play, reports Joystiq. They have confirmed that the game will be sold through digital distributors other than Origin, but lead designer Stone Librande tells them players will need to be connected to EA's online service to play, even in single-player. Word is: "The always-on connection becomes necessary with the game's emphasis on multiplayer and regional impact, and the use of a global economy that all players can influence."

Bhruic wrote on Mar 28, 2012, 11:18:I'm really wondering about this decision. Leaving aside the "EA is evil" debate for a moment, who thought this would be a good idea?

EA thought, this would be a good idea to show the investors that they are really, REALLY eager to protect their precious assets from those filthy pirate scum. Last business year EA lost again (!) a lot of money, despite of increased sales. EA introduced Online securom the first time the had a really bad quarter. Take2 used Online securom for Bioshock because the REALLY needed those sales and tried to keep their investors happy. Ubisoft announced UbiDRM after some heavy unexpected losses.

You ask what is the reason for Always-On? The desire to please the investors, to show them that the company wants to protect its revenue, that they can tap into more revenue by controlling the entire gameplay experience, by slicing the game into little DLC packages and feeding them to the stupid customer through gamer accounts on UbiPlay, Origin, Steam or XBOX Live.

Bhruic wrote on Mar 28, 2012, 11:18:So ignoring any baseless attacks on the publisher, anyone got a clue what the impetus was here to impose multiplayer on a game that seems so ill-suited for it?

Control and money. Also it doesn't seem baseless to consider the publishers history when they make current decisions. This way they can also try to stop those cdkey sale sites that have been cropping up and hitting Origin which only has regional restrictions on its actual storefront.

Same story as Diablo 3, protecting their online crap (DLC storefront) from piracy/cheating. That's the excuse anyway.

SimCity hasn't exactly been a franchise for which there has been a large need for either DLC or mods. But even if it were, there are plenty of non-online games that have lots of DLC and no mod-tools, so it's hard to believe that's the issue.

After 15 years of playing MMOs, I find an online requirement to play a game doesn't really bother me, as long as there are some redeeming online features that add to my experience and it's not just a meaningless DRM scheme.

If the game is otherwise good, I don't really give a fuck.

Every time you preorder a game, you become part of the problem. Don't be part of the problem.

I'm really wondering about this decision. Leaving aside the "EA is evil" debate for a moment, who thought this would be a good idea?

What exactly are the tangible benefits to online interaction that outweight the downsides? Has there really been a large number of SimCity fans clamoring for online play? I can't comprehend the decision making process here. I know that "online" is a nice bullet point, but even that doesn't explain making it mandatory. And EA hasn't (mostly) succumbed to the trend to make games require online play as a form of DRM.

So ignoring any baseless attacks on the publisher, anyone got a clue what the impetus was here to impose multiplayer on a game that seems so ill-suited for it?

SimCity has always been a singleplayer experience. Always. If there's a game that didn't need multiplayer and certainly didn't need an always-on online DRM is this series! Holy fuck is there anything publishers won't fucking ruin?

Great comment! I noticed a few others on this thread had similar good comments as well.

Dmitri_M wrote on Mar 28, 2012, 10:39:I realise the game activists on Bluesnews didn't play it but this sounds identical to Anno 2070's online component. Essentially there are gameplay mechanics that all players vote on or take part in that have bonus effects on your SP gameplay. I imagine all Simcities will exist within a fictional country and players will be able to vote for "presidents" or global policies that have bonus effects within SP gameplay.

Your SP games are still available when the network is offline, just that certain of these meta features are not.

EA Maxis has confirmed to SimCity will be sold on digital distribution platforms other than Origin, but the game will still require players to be logged in to EA’s service while playing. It has also said there won’t be mod support for the game, at least at launch.

Beamer wrote on Mar 28, 2012, 10:35:Well, they improved the series before they ruined it. Drives me nuts when people don't acknowledge that. Do we really need to list all the shit titles Maxis put out prior to being acquired? SimCity 3000 and SimCity 4 were both wholly EA as well.

SimCity4 is the best one IMO and 3 a close 2nd. It was EA as well but don't compare the EA from back then 12 years ago to the EA today. There's only 12 years of difference between SC4 and this new one.

I realise the game activists on Bluesnews didn't play it but this sounds identical to Anno 2070's online component. Essentially there are gameplay mechanics that all players vote on or take part in that have bonus effects on your SP gameplay. I imagine all Simcities will exist within a fictional country and players will be able to vote for "presidents" or global policies that have bonus effects within SP gameplay.

Your SP games are still available when the network is offline, just that certain of these meta features are not.

Well, they improved the series before they ruined it. Drives me nuts when people don't acknowledge that. Do we really need to list all the shit titles Maxis put out prior to being acquired? SimCity 3000 and SimCity 4 were both wholly EA as well.